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Did Josh McDaniels punk the Colts out of revenge for Deflategate?

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was going to become the new head coach on the Indianapolis Colts until he decided he wasn’t. The Colts released an official statement on the matter:

After agreeing to contract terms to become the Indianapolis Colts’ new head coach, New England Patriots assistant coach Josh McDaniels this evening informed us that he would not be joining our team. Although we are surprised and disappointed, we will resume our head coaching search immediately and find the right fit to lead our team and organization on and off the field.

“Agreeing to contract terms” isn’t the same thing as signing the contract. I’m assuming he never signed the contract otherwise the Colts would have probably lead with that. Plus, Josh McDaniels was still contractually obligated to the New England Patriots until after the Super Bowl. He wouldn’t have been able to sign a contract with the Colts until his time with the Patriots was over.

This could be a planned elaborate prank by the Patriots on the Colts. It was the Colts who got the wheels in motion for Deflategate. In the first quarter of the 2014 AFC Championship game, Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson intercepted a pass from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Jackson gave the ball for safekeeping to the Colts’ equipment staff. Upon inspection of the ball, the equipment staff decided the ball felt kind of squishy. It was as though it didn’t have enough air in it. They alerted game officials and all of the Patriots footballs were tested at halftime.

Did Josh McDaniels change his mind about the job offer as revenge for deflategate?